Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Monday that a deal to end military conflicts between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas could be forged this week.

Rice said she would also call for the establishment of an international force for Lebanon.

"As I head back to Washington, I take with me an emerging consensus on what is necessary for both an urgent ceasefire and a lasting settlement," Rice said in a statement before winding up a two-day visit to Israel on Monday morning.

According to the statement, the settlement will include three parts: a ceasefire, the political principles that provide for a long-term solution and the authorization of an international force to support the Lebanese army in keeping the peace.

Israel announced a 48-hour suspension of air strikes in Lebanon which took effect from 2 a.m. Monday (2300 GMT Sunday) to 2 a.m. Wednesday (2300 Tuesday).

Rice welcomed the temporary truce after an Israeli air raid on the southern Lebanese village of Qana on Sunday morning killed over 50 civilians, the deadliest single attack since the violence between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah began 20 days ago which drew widespread condemnation and calls for an immediate ceasefire.

Israel will also coordinate with the United Nations to allow a 24-hour window for residents of southern Lebanon to leave the area if they wish, U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli told a briefing in Jerusalem.

Rice also expressed "deep grieve to the tragic losses" of both Lebanese and Israeli civilians.

"I have been deeply grieved by the tragic losses we have witnessed, especially the deaths of children, Lebanese and Israelis. Too many families have been displaced from their homes. Too many people urgently need medical care or are living in shelters," she said.

Rice told reporters in Jerusalem that she would call for a UN resolution this week on the cease-fire and also the establishment of an international stabilization force for Lebanon, which she said she hoped could be deployed as soon as possible after the UN resolution.

"There is broad agreement that armed groups must be prohibited in areas where the international force is deployed," she said, adding an arms embargo must be enforced.

Rice, who returned to Israel on Saturday in less than a week to broker an early end to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, cancelled a scheduled visit to Beirut on Sunday after the Israeli air raid on Qana.

Violence between Israel and Hezbollah started on July 12 following the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas.

Source: Xinhua